Petunia plant named ‘Sunsurf Suika’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Sunsurf Suika’, characterized by its compact, mounding to trailing plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; large light red purple-colored flowers with broad and dark yellow green-colored margins and darker red purple-colored venation; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNSURF SUIKA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Sunsurf Suika’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new compact, freely branching andfreely flowering Petunia plants with mounding habit and attractiveflower coloration.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in January, 2010 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietaryselection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code name Px5306-02, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofPetunia×hybrida identified as code name Px5313-02, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environmentin Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in November, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan sinceNovember, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Petuniaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural conditions. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunsurf Suika’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Sunsurf Suika’ as a new and distinct Petuniaplant:

-   -   1. Compact, mounding to trailing plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Long flowering period.    -   6. Large light red purple-colored flowers with broad and dark        yellow green-colored margins and darker red purple-colored        venation.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more trailing than and not as        upright as plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have smaller flowers than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have light pink-colored flowers with green-colored margins.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have white-colored flowers with green-colored margins.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of the Petunia‘BHTUN31501’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,649. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the newPetunia and ‘BHTUN31501’ differed primarily in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were more compact than plants of        ‘BHTUN31501’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia had shorter internodes than plants        of ‘BHTUN31501’.    -   3. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller leaves with shorter        petioles than plants of ‘BHTUN31501’.    -   4. Plants of the new Petunia were more freely flowering than        plants of ‘BHTUN31501’.    -   5. Plants of the new Petunia had larger flowers than plants of        ‘BHTUN31501’.    -   6. Petal apices of plants of the new Petunia were mucronate in        shape whereas petal apices of plants of ‘BHTUN31501’ were        broadly acute in shape.    -   7. Petals of plants of the new Petunia were coarse and bullate        in texture whereas petals of plants of ‘BHTUN31501’ were smooth        in texture.    -   8. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘BHTUN31501’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘BHTUN31501’ had dark red purple-colored        flowers with green-colored margins and dark violet-colored        centers.    -   9. Plants of the new Petunia had longer and thicker peduncles        than plants of ‘BHTUN31501’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunsurf Suika’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Sunsurf Suika’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the early summer in 15-cmcontainers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and undercultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and nighttemperatures averaged 13° C. Plants were four months old when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘Sunsurf Suika’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Petunia×hybrida identified as code name Px5306-02, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Petunia×hybrida identified as code name Px5313-02, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About one week at            temperatures of about 15° C. to 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About three weeks at temperatures of about 15° C. to            20° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, mounding to trailing plant            habit; freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches            developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch            development; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 17.4 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 50.5 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 26 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.        -   Aspect.—Semi-upright to outwardly.        -   Texture.—Densely pubescent.        -   Color.—Close to 144C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 3 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.3 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Broadly acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire; slightly undulate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143C. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B; venation,            close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 137D; venation, close to 144C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from upper leaf axils; freely flowering habit with            usually about 63 flowers developing per plant; flowers face            upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of            the new Petunia initiate and develop flowers about three to            four weeks after planting; long flowering period; flowering            commences naturally during the spring and plants flower            continuously throughout the summer until late autumn in            Japan.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5.3 cm.        -   Flower length (depth).—About 3.7 cm.        -   Throat diameter.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Tube diameter, base.—About 3.8 mm.        -   Tube length.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 6.2 mm.            Shape: Cylindrical. Color: Close to 144C.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:            About 2.1 cm. Petal width: About 2.5 cm. Petal shape:            Spatulate. Petal apex: Mucronate. Petal margin: Entire,            undulate. Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Coarse,            bullate; glabrous. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube            texture: Densely pubescent. Color: Petal, when opening,            upper surface: Close to 64C; margins, close to 144A;            venation, close to 64B. Petal, when opening, lower surface:            Close to 65A; margins and venation, close to 144A. Petal,            fully opened, upper surface: Close to 68A; margins, close to            144A; venation, close to 64B. Petal, fully opened, lower            surface: Close to 65C; margins and venation, close to 144A.            Throat: Close to 145D; venation, close to N77B. Tube: Close            to 145D; venation, close to 144A.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five            sepals in a single whorl and fused at the base. Sepal            length: About 1.7 cm. Sepal width: About 4.5 mm. Sepal            shape: Narrowly elliptic. Sepal apex: Obtuse. Sepal margin:            Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent.            Color: Developing and fully opened sepals, upper surface:            Close to 143B. Developing and fully opened sepals, lower            surface: Close to 143C.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Diameter: About 1.6 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: Close            to 143B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Stamen length: About 1.6 cm to 2 cm. Anther shape: Ovoid..            Anther size: About 2.1 mm by 3.3 mm. Anther color: Close to            4C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 4C.            Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            2 cm. Style color: Close to 145B. Stigma shape: Transversely            ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to 150B. Ovary color: Close            to 145B. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Petunia.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Sunsurf Suika’ as illustrated and described. 